Requesting time off
Stewards requesting time off should provide employers with as much notice as possible and supply details of the purpose, the location and the amount of time required.

If you are requesting time off for training you should give the employer a few weeks' notice. Employers can insist on seeing a copy of the syllabus. Contact your branch or regional office if this happens.

When stewards want to call meetings of members in working time or on employers' premises they should also advise managers which groups are to be involved. The ACAS code suggests holding these towards the end of a shift or the working day, or before or after meal breaks.

Reasonableness
Requests for time off must be 'reasonable'. There are no strict guidelines on this, but employers may be legally entitled to refuse time off if:
• they have difficulty providing a service or maintaining production
• safety and security could be affected
• the amount of time or frequency cannot be justified.

Stewards who are regularly refused time off should seek advice from the branch or regional office.